Originally this novel was written in the form of 38 letters, mainly from the Inca princess Zilia to her lover Aza. The Inca princess Zilia is kidnapped by Spanish conquerors, captured by the French after a battle at sea, and taken to Europe. This edition consists of 41 letters, mainly from the Inca princess Zilia to her lover, Aza. Letters 39-41 are a translation of: Suite des Lettres d'une Peruvienne / Peine [i.e. Paris], 1747. This second group of letters originally published as a separate work written by Ignace Hugary de La Marche-Courmont. Lettres d'Aza ou d'un Peruvien, Amsterdam, 1749.

Translation of: Lettres d'une Peruvienne, first published in one of 11 fictitious imprints given as Peine, [1747 or 1748?], and which were first printed in Italian with imprint All' Aja, 1754. Text in French and Italian on facing pages (Italian on versos, French on rectos)

Two states of the present edition are known: one on regular size, laid paper, with the 7 plates all bearing captions and p. 467 misnumbered as 441; the other on large, wove paper, with 3 copies of each plate, two of them representing early versions, without captions, all with guard sheets; this state has p. 467 correctly numbered.

Another 1797 edition was published in Paris by P. Didot l'ainé, with French text only and in 2 volumes.

"Vita della signora di Graffigny, della Accademia di Fiorenza, raccolta da diverse opere": p. [4], 6, and 8.

"Vie de Madame de Graffigny, de l'Académie de Florence, extraite de divers ouvrages": p. [5], 7, and 9.

Caption title for Italian text, beginning p. 40 reads: Léttere d'una Peruviana.

Errata: p. [1], 2nd count.

Signatures: [1]⁸ 2-30⁸ 31⁴ ([1]₁ verso blank)

Sabin 28193.

Palau y Dulcet (2nd ed.) 107106.

Grässe 3:129.

Brown, J.C. Bibliotheca Americana, III:3878.

John Carter Brown Library copy 1 represents state 1 on regular paper; this copy bound in contemporary full treed calf.

John Carter Brown Library copy 2 represents state 2 on large, wove paper; this copy bound in contemporary full calf with marbled calf boards, pink silk endpapers and gilded edges.

Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy 2: Biblioteque de Monsr Raye: armorial bookplate on recto of second front flyleaf.